A beautiful bird in a dirty cage is not only ugly but is unhealty for the bird.  Bird waste, dirty water, soiled toys, dirty bird cage supplies and old food and even a dirty area on the floor under the cage will not promote a good environment for the bird or the owner.  Not many people enjoy cleaning, but there are several items on the market to make it a lot quicker and easier to do.  Tray liners and seed guards are good preventative items that will make regular cleaning faster.  But sometimes you will need to do a more thorough job.  There are a lot of products availible to help to keep and clean, order-free and attrative cage.  A well maintained cage will help you and your bird enjoy the cage but will also promote for a healthier bird.  The cage might need such items as corner shelves or a sun deck which is just a hook on shelf that can be placed inside or outside of the cage.  Make sure the small bird cage is changed to a larger size if you need to.

Nesting Material

Durning springtime your female bird might need nesting material if she starts showing signs of plucking her feathers or shredding the tray liners if she can reach it. These behaviors are instinctual, especially at breeding time. To help alleviate stress during this time by providing a nest or nesting materials. Be sure to use all natural materials that the bird would find in the wild. This will also provide additional warmth, security, and stress relief. Some birds will even decorating their nest.  It is important to provide the bird cage accessories for your bird.

Feeding Dishes And Water Bowls

It is also very important to have to right size feeding dishes and water bowls for your bird.  Also a bath bowl and misters is something else your bird will enjoy.  Once some birds get used to the misters, they will spread their wings so you can spray them throughly.

Bird Cage Toys

Toys are a must for all birds.  Not only do they help the bird to exercise but also to entertain themselves, birds like people will become bored.  Be sure the cage has a good varity but also be sure to leave enough room for the bird.  Birds like to chew so it is important to take care to change out any toys where claws could get stuck or the bird might eat anything harmful like threads from rope perches.  If your bird gets bored he/she might start feather plucking.

Other Bird Cage Supplies

Perches, ropes, ladders and some toys come in natural woods and materials that are safe for your bird.  Stay away from plastics, these will become slippery when wet and harmful if eaten.  Don’t be afraid to “play” with your bird.  They love all the attention they can get.

When choosing bird cage accessories make sure you pick the right size for your bird and the cage the accessories are being placed in.  You do not want to buy lagre accessories to go into a small bird cage.  Special care must be given to avoid accossories containing chemicals like zinc, lead, or dyes. With all the things avaible for the inside and outside of the cage, make certian to leave enough room for your bird to roam around and to stretch without colliding with all the fun and necessary bird cage supplies. You should expect your bird to chew and shred everything except the dishes and the cage itself. Check often to see what needs to be replaced.  Another great accessories is one of the bird cage covers to help the bird know it is time for bed.

Birds spend a great deal of time on their feet so a good perch is essintial. The natural tree branches are better then the wooden dowels that are supplied with each cage. Nut and fruit tree branches are good to use. Also dogwood, magnolia, ash, and elm, even grapevines can be used. After cutting the branches to fit the cage, be sure to clean and scrub with detergents. Rinse and dry in sun light. Check for insect egg pods before entering into cage as these might hatch later in the cage.

Untreated cotton rope is great for perching and helping the bird to travel and explore inside the cage. This can be thrown in the washing machine for cleaning. Care should be given that the rope is not frayed so the birds toe nails willnot become stuck or that the bird is not eating the frayed strings.  The concrete or mineral perch gives your bird a place to groom the beak and nails. Plastic perches are not recommended. They can become slippery and cause medical problems if eaten. Sandpaper can scratch the bird’s feet and is not recommended.

The food and water dishes come in a varity of materials. Stainless steel, crockery and high-impact plastic are all good choices. Obtain the appropriate size dishes for your bird. It is recommended to clean and disinfect daily. Place in cage where the dishes are easy to remove and replace. Water can be given for a dish or a water bottle like those used for hampsters and guinea pigs, just make sure your bird knows how to use the bottle, placing it in a spot that is also easy to remove, clean and refill.  Smaller birds need a nest box to hide for comfort and privacy . These boxes can be hung from the top of the cage and are easy to clean. 

As you can tell , a lot of items are avaible for your bird. Some of the things you might consider if your bird needs could be a playpen or play area, some of these fit on top of the cages. Do you need a extra carrier for the bird to be transported in. Do you have a bird bath, this could be a bigger bowl and what about misters–birds love to be misted and there is a wide assortment of groomong supplies. Do you need to obtain books for you to referance for your bird? Each species has their own needs for housing, feeding, breeding and socialization.

Sanitation of all the bird cage accessories is of the upmost importance. You should be able to clean all items in hot soapy water or put in dishwasher on hot water cycle. To disinfect, use 1/2 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Always clean and disinfect away from your bird.   Scented cleaners may be harmful to the birds respiratory membranes. Always allow to air-dry before returning to bird.